Town Square

Beekeeper seeks permission to keep hive in south San Ramon

A San Ramon beekeeper may have to move his hive, after a decision from San Ramon's policy committee. Bees -- along with chickens and even goats -- are part of a recent trend, according to Steve Gentry, the owner of Steve's Bees in Orinda.

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Posted by C. R. Mudgeon
a resident of Danville
on Jul 11, 2013 at 9:24 am

I don't know anything about beekeeping, but it seems to me that a reasonable position on this would be to allow beekeeping on smaller lots, but with a limit on the number of the hives, that would be in keeping (no pun intended) with a home-hobbyist level of activity, and not a real commercial activity.

I always am happy to see lots of bees (both honeybees and bumblebees) in our yard, buzzing around the flowers, as their pollination activities are important for both agriculture and the environment in general. And bees aren't a problem for backyard picnics - that's usually yellowjackets, wasps, and hornets.

I am highly allergic but still welcome the bees. The honey bees will not bother you unless you bother them. My acre and half is full of honey bees which is why it looks so nice. Yellow jackets and wasps are a whole other story. I agree that people should be allowed to have hives on smaller parcels.

They are the hardest working creatures around which actually help mankind in many ways.

As long as the bee keeper is faithful to prudent care and protection of the bees, they will harm no one unless someone seeks to attack or molest the bees. This instinctive reaction, if attacked they retaliated, is found in pretty most animals in nature.

Bees are given the short shrift because most people dont know or understand what bees do or provide mankind. They do a lot for humans which humans cant do.

Because one or two can go awry doesnt mean nor should it mean that the whole colony should be removed, destroyed or vacated or moved far away.

Leave bees along and they will basically protect mankind with their beneficial hard working efforts.